‘Horrible’: Jordan Rapana’s nightmare blunder gifts Warriors early try

Jordan Rapana gifted the Warriors their opening points of Saturday afternoon’s thriller with this “horrible” first-half blunder.

Jordan Rapana won't want to watch this replay.

Jordan Rapana certainly won’t be eager to watch this replay.

The Canberra Raiders fullback gifted the Warriors their opening points of Saturday afternoon’s clash at Moreton Daily Stadium with a “horrible” blunder in the first half.

The men in green were leading 8-0 in the 24th minute when Rapana caught a skied ball and looked to flick it towards teammate Nick Cotric centre field.

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But his wayward pass landed comfortably short of the Raiders winger, who fumbled the footy after an awkward bounce.

Warriors recruit Daejarn Asi quickly retrieved the Steeden, with the New Zealand-based side scoring a few seconds later on the left wing.

Reece Walsh made no mistake with his conversion attempt from the sideline, reducing the deficit to just two points.

Jordan Rapana of the Raiders. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“What was Rapana thinking?” commentator Brenton Speed said on Fox League.

“Rapana has let the air out of the Raiders balloon.”

Wests Tigers icon Steve Roach continued: “I reckon Ricky Stuart’s just fallen out of the grandstand.

“It was poor pass from Rapana … that was a horrible pass, and then the quick play the ball.

“They needed a little bit of luck didn’t they, the Warriors.

“There was no energy in the pass there.”

Ricky might have a few words with Rapana at half time 😳😳😳
He's had better games #NRLWarriorsRaiders

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) April 30, 2022

A Rapana mistake for a Warriors try?

It’s Daejarn Vu. #NRLWarriorsRaiders

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) April 30, 2022

Rapana would have let out a sigh of relief when Canberra second-rower Hudson Young dived over three minutes later to keep the Raiders in control of the Round 8 fixture in Redcliffe.

Soon after, Warriors teenager Viliami Vailea scored his first NRL try to once again shift momentum back in their favour.

The players returned to the sheds at halftime with Canberra leading 20-12.

Both sides were plagued by unforced errors and clumsy knock-ons throughout the second half, much to the frustration of coaches Ricky Stuart and Nathan Brown.

The Warriors ultimately secured a thrilling 21-20 Golden Point victory after halfback Shaun Johnson booted a field goal three minutes into extra time.

“How on earth did they win this game?” Speed asked as the Warriors celebrated their thrilling win.

It was a stunning turnaround for Brown’s men, who suffered an embarrassing 60-point loss to the Melbourne Storm last weekend.

Shaun Johnson of the Warriors. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“It’s good we got the win, I don’t feel like we had a right to win that game,” Walsh told Fox League after the one-point triumph.

“We were pretty poor. I feel like we’ve got to come back next week with a better attitude than we did tonight and show everyone how we really play.”

The Raiders, who didn’t score a single point in the second half, have now suffered five consecutive defeats.

Earlier on Saturday, reports emerged that Warriors playmaker Ash Taylor had decided to announce his retirement from the NRL at age 27.

Originally published as ‘Horrible’: Jordan Rapana’s nightmare blunder gifts Warriors early try